Views of the Brunswick Creek wildfire on the afternoon of July 6. This is the north and east flanks of the blaze. B.C. Wildfire Service

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Firefighters continue to battle two out-of-control wildfires near Boston Bar that have forced evacuations, highway closures and scorched part of a resort.

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As of Saturday, the Brunswick Creek wildfire had burned more than 28 square kilometres, while the Ainslie Creek wildfire had burned more than 158 square kilometres. The two fires are collectively known as the Brunswick Complex.

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B.C. Wildfire Service officials said in an update Saturday that they were expecting southerly winds with gusts of up to 40 kilometres per hour in the afternoon. Current wind direction is pushing fire away from communities, the update said.

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The Brunswick Creek fire as helicopters bucket water on July 9. B.C. Wildfire Service

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Earlier this week, the Fraser Valley Regional District upgraded an evacuation alert to an order for 38 more properties.

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There are now seven evacuation orders and two alerts affecting hundreds of properties for the Brunswick Creek wildfire and an evacuation alert for the nearby Ainslie Creek wildfire. It’s believed that both fires were ignited by people.

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“There have been structures lost. However, the area is too dangerous to enter for damage assessment activity,” said Samantha Piper, a spokesperson for the Fraser Valley Regional District.

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The regional district is working with the B.C. Wildfire Service to conduct rapid damage assessment, possibly this weekend.

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Highway 1 near Boston Bar was shut down for several days but has since reopened. Drive B.C. says lane closures and traffic interruptions are ongoing and there is no stopping within the wildfire zone.

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This map from the Fraser Valley Regional District shows properties on evacuation order because of the Brunswick Complex wildfire.

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On Friday, winds from the south and southeast directions were expected in the morning, while winds from the south and southwest are expected later in the day. Gusts of up to 35 kilometres an hour have been forecast, though gusts up to 60 kilometres are possible at mid-slope elevations and at ridge tops.

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“We are continuing to see active fire behaviour along the southeast corner … as fire continues to back down the slope, and it is highly visible to surrounding communities. Current wind direction is pushing fire away from communities,” read an update.

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In an Instagram post, Shayne Findlay, the operator of Blue Lake Resort, posted video showing some structures at the resort had been lost. He says staff have been watching the destruction on live web cameras. Blue Lake Resort has a campground and cabins about 15 kilometres north of Boston Bar.

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Environment and Climate Change Canada posted several air-quality warnings, including one orange-level alert for the Fraser Canyon, where wildfire smoke is causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility.

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Residents in the alert area are being asked to avoid strenuous outdoor activity until the warning has ended, and to stay indoors in a space with cleaner air.

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Some people are more likely to be negatively impacted by smoke, including those with lung and heart conditions, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people aged 65-and-older, and anyone whose health is affected by a chronic condition or acute illness, the warning stated.

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Views of the Brunswick Creek wildfire on the afternoon of July 6. This is the blaze as seen from Boston Bar. Photo by B.C. Wildfire Service

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More to come …

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With files from Stephanie Ip.

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